Pa. man in court on charges he videoed burning boy

CHICORA, Pa. (AP) - A defense lawyer said Tuesday he may ask for bail reduction for the western Pennsylvania man accused of throwing nail polish on his girlfriend's 7-year-old son then recording him after he was set on fire.

Attorney Gerald Cassady said he may ask that bond be lowered for Edward Myers, whose preliminary hearing Tuesday was delayed while prosecutors seek to interview another possible witness.

Myers is in jail on $250,000 bond, which he has been unable to make. His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 13.

Cassady said Myers is "shocked" and has trouble believing he's in jail.

"We wish the young man a speedy recovery," Cassady said of the injured boy.

The 36-year-old Saxonburg man is facing felony assault and other charges related to the alleged May 25 attack. He's pleaded not guilty. He declined to comment before his court appearance Tuesday, about 30 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Police said Myers threw nail polish on the boy then did nothing to help him after he was set on fire, either by Myers or other boys at the home in Saxonburg. The boy suffered third-degree burns on his face and chest and had welts on his forehead from being shot with a plastic pellet gun. Myers' 15-year-old son is facing juvenile charges in the incident.

The criminal complaint said police seized several cellphones during the investigation, but Cassady said he hasn't seen any videos of the alleged attack yet. According to the complaint, the boy said it "seemed like hours" before his mother returned home and took him to the hospital. Myers allegedly telephoned the boy's mother after the incident but didn't tell her that her son was injured.

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